SWHW Bible Reading Plan: September 2021Sample

Top Takeaway from Alonda Tanner:

If I had to assign a theme to Nehemiah Chapters 7 and 8, I'd use the word: reconciliation.

When something is reconciled it is either restored back to its previous condition or restored to an improved condition. Sometimes, it's both. 

At this point in Bible history, the Israelites have been through some rude awakenings. They've experienced slavery, prosperity, judgment, and mercy. They've walked closely with God and they've also abandoned Him. 

This particular time, exile was on the other side of their decision to abandon God. Their land had been destroyed, their people captured and enslaved, and their wealth ransacked and redistributed among the Babylonian empire. They faced some really hard times. 

As always though, on the other side of those hard times, God was waiting to reconcile the people back to Him. Nehemiah Chapter 7 is a picture of what that reconciliation looked like on a practical level. 

A lot of times reform starts from the ground up. It begins as a spark among the people and ignites up the chain of leadership. What's interesting about the ebb and flow of Hebrew people is that when they were met with reform, it came from the top. 

It was the leadership that set the tone for the nation. One of the most significant things Nehemiah did, as governor of Jerusalem, after the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt was to appoint leaders. Scripture doesn't give a long list of qualifications for these particular leaders, but it does reveal to us why Nehemiah made the appointments He did. 

“then I put Hanani my brother, and Hananiah the commander of the citadel, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.” Nehemiah 7:2

Another significant step Nehemiah took that paved the way for reconciling the people of Jerusalem was making God's laws available to all people. 

“Then Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women, and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. And he read from it before the public square which was in front of the Water Gate, from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.” Nehemiah 8:2

Ezra led the people in worship, and following worship, the Levites continued to instruct the people in the law.

As Christians who want to see the nations on fire for God and free of corruption, it can be really hard to remember that our leaders are meant to play a key part in leading our nation to God and righteousness. While it's important to oppose wickedness, we need to be equally as diligent about praying for our leaders to make their way back to God.

Trust me, I know it takes a lot of strength to pray that prayer. Some days, it seems pointless. We wonder if God even hears the prayers we pray. The truth is we don't always know how God is going to respond to our prayers. Even when He says “yes,” we may not have eyes to see how that yes is going to come about. That's a reality we have to accept if we're going to be people who care about God's business. We aim to trust Him with the unknowns and do right with what we do know. 

What we 100%, without a doubt, know about God based on His words in the Bible, is that God is in the business of reconciliation. When He changes the hearts of leaders, leaders change the hearts of nations. So let's pray for our leaders, that like Nehemiah and the leadership of Jerusalem, they would find their way back to God and courageously lead the nation back to Him. 

God, today we pray for the reconciliation of nations. We ask that You would draw us back to You. We know You are the only God who saves. We've tried things our way long enough. God, we ask that You would turn the hearts of people and the hearts of nations back to You. We want to see truth and righteousness come alive in our leaders, our communities, our churches, and our families. This is a work that only You can accomplish, so we're asking for Your wisdom. Help us to hear Your voice so we can turn from our own ways and follow Your ways. In Your name, we pray, Amen.